Review
"Impressively informed and informative, "Crack The Code" is exceptionally well written, organized and presented for the benefit of non-specialist general readers including men over 50, their wives, partners, children and grandchildren. Additionally "Crack The Code" will be of immense interest and value as an informational resource for health care providers, insurers, policy makers. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Contemporary Health & Medicine collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Crack The Code" is also available in a digital book format." - Midwest Book Review
"In this book Louis Bezich argues that as a group men over fifty years old here in the United States are an especially high risk for health problems and shortened longevity. Reasons for this include inadequate exercise and under-utilization of the healthcare system (i.e., not seeing a doctor regularly or going for an annual checkup). Much of what Bezich recommends has to do with encouraging middle-aged and older men to become more physically active.
To this end he presents ten suggestions that, if implemented, will improve a person's health. These ten steps are: Assess your current state; create your vision; build your strategy; create your personal lifestyle network; design a sustainability plan; leverage micromotivators; be optimistic; adjust; be a hero. Each of these suggestions, if implemented, will play a part in improving a person's health. In addition to a detailed description on how to implement these suggestions, Bezich presents the result of interviews with some of the thousand or so men who took part in his study and also ends each chapter with a series of questions to consider and answer.
Much of what Bezich says is to the point. When I was nearly 71 I almost died from an aortic dissection, a condition that causes death in the majority of those who are felled by it. Although I had been physically active for my entire adult life I had ignored the advice of my wife and others to see a doctor. Even when I developed high blood pressure I tried (unsuccessfully) to control it through modifications in my diet alone. The result was seven hours of emergency open-heaert surgery, which, thankfully, I survived.
I should have known better. When I was 58 an aneurysm in my iliac artery ruptured and by the time I was on the operating table I had lost half my blood. A few years later I had genetic testing and discovered that I had a gene that increased the chances of suffering from abdominal and aortic aneurysms. Had I paid attention to this as well as to my hypertension, I would have gotten tested yearly (which was what I should have been doing), and in all likelihood would have avoided an aortic dissection.
This brings me to my first recommendation should Bezich decide to expand on this book, and that is that as part of one's health regimen it is important to get genetic testing. Back when I was 58 years old, genetic testing was just beginning to come into existence. But today there's no excuse for not being aware of threatening genetic conditions. So, I would like to see this added to the advice that Bezich gives.
My second suggestion is that Bezich address the problem of overexercise. Although I applaud the effort to motivate mature men to exercise, a caution should be given regarding obsessiveness. I began long-distance running when I was in my mid-twenties and completed several marathons. But I ran too much. The result was that I had double knee replacements in my late fifties. Perhaps this takes second place to getting men to be physically active, but for many who work themselves into shape it becomes a problem and should be addressed." -Doug Erlandson, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer
"Lou Bezich has written a brilliant book that will help men over the age of 50, like me, look at themselves in a whole new light. This book helped me understand what it means to be adaptable in life, be available in a meaningful way to my family and friends, and be alert to my surroundings so that I can sustain excellence in how I work and live. There is so much great guidance, advice, and instruction in this book. I couldn't put it down!" -Sal Paolantonio, National Correspondent, ESPN
"Lou Bezich has indeed cracked the secret code among all too macho men! Every guy knows that going to the doctor makes you a sissy and that sharing intimate health details is akin to fumbling the football on the one-yard line. Bezich "tackles" these tightly held myths and turns the game around. He knows that you cannot improve the health of a population-in this case reluctant men- without their engagement in the process. He has written the playbook that all men need to read and to embrace. Maybe men will even share the playbook with their spouse, girlfriend, and grown daughters. Imagine the improvement in outcomes we could achieve!! Kudos to Bezich for grabbing this fumble and running it all the way down the field for a true touchdown for health! I hope every guy will read this great book." -David B. Nash MD, MBA, Founding Dean, Jefferson College of Population Health, Philadelphia, PA
"This book tackles a tough topic...how to get men engaged in their own health. It's accessible, fun to read, and extremely well researched. The book is based on both real-life experience from the author, a national survey, and input from experts around the country. Men who want to get healthier and anyone concerned about he health of a man in their life should buy and read this book." -Jeff Brenner MD, Senior Vice President-Clinical Redesign, United Healthcare Community & State, Mac Arthur Genius Award Recipient, Founder-Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers
